A decade after trying to launch a volleyball career in Canberra, Caitlyn Thwaites hopes her breakout netball appearance can catapult her to a spot at the Commonwealth Games next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Thwaites made her Australian starting debut in the Diamonds' last-gasp 50-49 win over New Zealand at the AIS Arena on Sunday.
It was just her second Test cap after spending the past six years on the fringes. And it was fitting she got her chance in Canberra 10 years after arriving at the Australian Institute of Sport as a volleyballer.
Thwaites played in the Australian junior and senior teams before the sport had its funding cut when it failed to make the Athens Olympics in 2004.
It prompted Thwaites to switch back to netball and she got the reward she craved on Sunday when she started in the last Constellation Cup match against New Zealand.
''I was extremely nervous before the game, I've been there or thereabouts for six years and not been picked in the team,'' Thwaites said. ''To have earned my start … It's a really good feeling.
''I moved to Canberra for volleyball when I was 16 … I went back to netball when we didn't make Athens, it was 10 years ago I was here so I've had a lot of time to readapt.''
Thwaites showed no signs of nerves early as she helped Australia to an early lead. She combined well with goal attack Natalie Medhurst, but Australia trailed by three goals at half-time.
It prompted coach Lisa Alexander to inject regular goal shooter Caitlin Bassett and then take a gamble on Erin Bell at goal attack in the dying minutes.
It paid off with the Diamonds rising to a last-gasp win with Bassett starring in the last quarter and sinking the winning goal.
Wing defence Renae Hallinan was outstanding while Laura Geitz and Bianca Chatfield were strong in defence.
Thwaites finished with 17 goals from her 19 attempts while Bassett hit 20 from 25.
Geitz said the Canberra crowd was the loudest of the Diamonds' home games in the Constellation Cup.
The Diamonds won the series 4-1 and beat New Zealand in four consecutive Tests for the first time since 1998.
''For us to go out there and try new combinations … it just gives us a lot of confidence. Any combination can be put out there on court and do the job,'' Geitz said. ''That's good in the sense because we've got so much depth and it pushes the girls on court.''
